Switch and outlet box



Dec. 9, 1941. c; E. PIKE SWITCH AND OUTLET BOX Filed Jan. 24, 1938Patented Dec. 9, 1941 D STAT E S 1 Claim.

This invention relates to electrical receptacles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a switch and outletbox so formed as to comprise an outer box-element and an innerboxelement, both box-elements coacting to clamp and retain armoredcables inserted therein without the use of special connectors.

Another object of the invention relates to the construction of the outerbox-element whereby a plurality of such outlet boxes as contemplated bythe invention may be assembled in gangs without the use of screws orseparate fittings and special tools.

Still another object of the invention relates to the provision ofattaching brackets to the outer box-element, both the brackets-and outerboxelement being so formed as to permit a rigid attachment of thebrackets'on said outer box-element in a plurality of adjusted positionswithout the use of screws, separate fittings and special tools.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout theprogress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawing illustrates selected embodiment of theinvention and the views therein are as follows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the outer boxelement of the switch andoutlet box.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the inner box-element of the switchand outlet box.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the switch and outletbox showing the inner and outer box-elements with inserted armor cables,all in assembled relation.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the switch and outlet box showingthe manner of securing one of the attachment brackets thereto.

Referring to Figure 1, I0 denotes the outer boxelement of the outletbox, and is formed of a single sheet metal stamping comprising a basell, front and rear walls 12 and l3, and sidewalls l4 and IS. The frontand rear walls are bent up from the base ll into vertical parallelrelation, and the side walls I4 and [5, which are considerably shorterthan the height of the front and rear walls are likewise bent up fromthe base I! into abutting engagement with the side edges of said frontand rear walls as clearly shown in Figure 1, to form said box-likeelement.

Each of the front and rear walls i2, and l 3 are provided with a cut-outportion ll, defined by three partly circular recesses, arranged intriangular relation, the two lower recesses l8 and i9 being of equalsize while the upper recess 20 55 tioning lugs 29' at the same opposed.side edges is of a considerably greater diameter. The combined partcircular recesses form said cut-out portion I! which is symmetrical withreference to the longitudinal vertical center plane normal to saidwalls, said cut-out portion I! being arranged adjacent the base of saidwalls and are thus in exact opposed relation. The dimensions of the partcircular recesses are such that one end of a standard and well knownform of armored electric cable may be inserted readily into the upperrecess 20 to be moved downwardly into one or the other of the lowerrecesses 18 or H] to be snugly received therein, the edges of said lowerrecesses fitting between the convolutions of said armored-cable to thushold said cable against being pulled outwardly of said box-element, aswill be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The side walls 14 and I5 are'each provided with a pair of spaced cut-outportions 22 and 23, reentrant from the upper edges of said side walls.The major part of each of said cut-out portion 22, 23 is part circularas shown and are of the same dimensions as the part circular recesses18, I 9 of the cut-out portions IT, to receive in interlocking relationan end of an armored cable, in the manner as above indicated.

At the same side edge of the front walls 12 and 53 there is provided anintegral lateral extension 25 flush with the plane of said walls and soarranged adjacent the upper end portion thereof as to be in act opposedrelation to each other. Each extension 25 is provided with a verticalcentral slot 25 which is substantially in line with the adjacent sideedge of its respective Wall, the dimensions of said extensions and slotsbeing equal. At the other side edge of the front walls I2 and I? thereis provided an integral fiat lug 2T bent normal to its respective wallso that said lugs on said walls will extend toward each other in opposedrelation. The width of the lugs 21 is substantially equal to the lengthof the slots 26 in the lateral extensions 25, said lugs and slots beingat the same distance above the base II of said box element 0, for apurpose to be hereinafter described.

Also formed integral with the front and rear walls'lZ and I3 at theupper end portions of the side edges thereof are positioning lugs 28 and29, said positioning lugs being inwardly bent normal to the plane ofsaid walls, so that the positioning lugs on one wall will extend towardsthe positioning lugs on the other wall in opposed relation, and lying inthe same plane. The posiof said front and rear walls are each formed attheir outermost vertical edge with an outwardly curved lip 30.

Formed integral with each of the front and rear walls I 2 and I3 attheir upper transverse edge is a horizontal bent over outwardlyextending ear 32, each provided with a central small threaded opening33, said ears being arranged in the vertical central longitudinal planeof the boxelement II]. The ears 32 function as supporting and holdingmeans for an electric switch, cover plate, etc., to be placed within anoutlet box in the manner well known in the art. It is to be understoodthat the ears 32, the threaded openings 33 therein and the distancebetween the same are in accordance with the standard dimensions asutilized in the art whereby to coact with any standard type of electricswitch, cover plate, etc.

Adjustably carried by the front and rear walls I2 and I3 are separableattaching brackets 35. The brackets 35 are identical and interchangeableand are made of a sheet metal stamping, U- shape in form and bent at itslegs to provide a horizontal U-shaped attaching portion 36 and dependinglegs 31 and 38, the leg 31 being of a greater length than the leg 38. Ateach end of the bight portion 36 there is provided a screw or nailreceiving opening 49, the space defined between the legs of thehorizontal portion being suflicient to accommodate the car 32, when thebrackets 35 are placed in position. Formed in the long leg 31 of thebracket 35 are three vertical slots 40, equally spaced and each of thesame size. The short leg 38 is provided along its outside edge adjacentits upper end with an integral guide lug 4|, bent outwardly in adirection opposite to the horizontal portion 35.

Provided on each of the walls I2 and I3 adjacent one side edge thereofis a vertical row of slots 44 equally spaced and of equal size, thelength of said slots being of such size as to receive therein the guidelug 4| on the bracket leg 38. Transversely spaced from the lowermostslot 44 and adjacent the other side edge of the walls I2 and I3 is astruck out fastening lug 45, of such a size as to fit into any one ofthe slots 40 in the bracket leg 31. Manifestly, in View of the fact thatthe brackets 35 are identical and thus interchangeable it is necessarythat the slots 44 and fastening lug 45 on one wall have a reverserelationship to the same on the other wall. In other words the slots 44are in direct opposed relation to the fastening lugs 45, see Figure 1.

With the parts so formed the bracket 35 is assembled one with each ofthe walls I2 and I3, in the following manner: In the position of thebracket 35 shown in Figures 1 and 4 the horizontal portion 36 thereof isflush with the top edge of its associated wall and in this position theguide lug 4| on the bracket leg 38 is inserted in the uppermost slot 44in said wall, while on the other hand the fastening lug 45 is insertedwithin the lowermost slot 40 of the bracket leg 31. To securely lock thebracket 35 in its adjusted position the fastening lug 45 is given aslight twist (see Fig. 4), whereby separation of the bracket 35 from itsassociated wall is positively prevented. It is obvious from theconstruction shown that three positions of adjustment for the brackets35 are provided, the posi' tion thereof shown and described being theuppermost position possible. Thus in the lowermost position of thebracket 35, the guide lug 4| will fit within the lowermost slot 44,while the fastening lug 45 will fit within the uppermost slot 4|]. Fromthis construction it will be appreciated that an exceedingly simple andeflicient construction has been provided for securing the brackets 35 inany one of three adjusted positions on the front and rear walls I2, I3of the outer box-element II). To remove the bracket 35 and to readjustthe same, all that is necessary is to straighten out the fastening lug45 (by means of a plier) remove the bracket, reinsert in desiredposition and again twist the fastening lug 45.

Cooperating with the outer box-element ID in securing the armored cablesplaced therein is an inner open ended box-element 50, shown in Figure 2.This inner box-element is restangular in form, and is formed from asingle sheet metal stamping bent to provide end walls 5| and 52, andside walls 53 and 54. The opposite transverse edges of the stamping areformed with slots and lugs 55 and 56, arranged to interlock with eachother in the manner wall'known for rigidly connecting the end wall 52with the side wall 54 to provide a rigid structure as well as preventingseparation of said last mentioned walls. The dimensions of the innerbox-element 50 are such that the same may be readily inserted into theouter box-element III, with the walls of the former in close proximityto the walls of the latter, and with the top edge of the former lyingsubstantially in the same plane with or slightly below the top edges ofthe latter, as shown in Figure 3.

The end walls 5| and 52 at their lower portions are provided with twopairs of spaced vertical slits 51 extending upwardly from the bottomedge of said walls to define two flaps 58 and 59, which are sopositioned as to be, in the inserted position of said inner box-element50, in opposed relation to the part circular recesses I8 and I9 formedin the walls I2 and I3 of the outer box-element. These flaps 58, 59serve both as a closure for said recesses and also by being bentinwardly to engage an end of the armored cable for holding the same inplace, in the manner as will be hereinafter described.

In a like manner and for a like purpose, the side walls 53 and 54 of theinner box-element 50 are formed with similar slits 60 to provide a pairof flaps GI and 62 on each side wall.

Struck out from each of the end walls 5|, 52 and bent horizontallyinwardly with reference to the inner box-element 50 are opposedattaching lugs 55 and 66, arranged in the central longitudinal plane ofsaid box-element and in the same horizontal plane. Each of saidattaching lugs is provided with a threaded bolt receiving opening 51.Similar threaded openings 58 are provided in the base I I of the outerbox-element ID adapted to be in axial registry with the attaching lugopenings 51 when the box-elements I0 and 50 are in nested relation.

The side walls 53 and 54 of the inner boxelement 50 are provided withweakened portions 1!! which may be knocked out, in the manner well knownto provide additional entry means into the outlet box, for conductors,cables, etc. In a like manner similar knock-out portions 'Il may beprovided in the base II of the outer boxelement In. It is to beunderstood that any desired number, shape and position of such knockoutportions may be utilized as found desirable and expedient.

In use, first one end of an armored cable 15,

see Fig. 3, is placed in position in one of the part circular recesses,of the outer box-element 10, there being shown in Figure 3, two suchcable ends one inserted in the recess 23 of the side wall I4 and theother inserted in the recess I9 of the wall l2. The inner box-element Bis then inserted within the outer box-element H], with the appropriateflaps 62 and 59 bent up to accommodate said armored cable ends, in themanner clearly shown in Figure 3. Bolts 16 are then inserted through theopenings 6'! in the attaching lugs 65 and 66 and through the threadedopenings 68 in the base H of the outer box-element, which act to tightlydraw the inner box-element 50 into seating engagement with the outerboxelement l0, at the same time the flaps 62 and 59 will press againstthe inwardly projecting ends of the armored cables to tightly clamp thesame in place, as clearly shown in Figure 3. It will be apparent thatthis construction acts to securely lock the armored cables to the outletbox, requires no' special and separate cable fasteners as commonly used,as well as no special tools in assembling the parts. It is also apparentthat the outlet box construction as shown and described provides in asingle outlet box unit a single means, namely, the flaps on the innerbox-element for clamping as many armored cables in place as the outletbox unit may accommodate, in this case eight, thus rendering said outletbox unit extremely flexible in use with a considerable saving in time,cost and material. An additional cable of a larger size may be connectedto the base I! by means of connectors, by knocking out the knockout H.

While only one outlet box unit has been shown, the construction thereofis such that the same may be assembled and interlocked in gangs of anydesired number. Thus should it be desired to use two such outlet boxunits together, they may be arranged in attached side by side relationby placing the lugs 21 on the front and rear walls of one outerbox-element into the slots 26 provided in the lateral extensions 25 ofthe front and rear walls of'the other and adjacent outer boxelement. Topermit the insertion of the lugs 21 within the slots 26, the lateralextensions are sprung backwards by virtue of the inherent resiliency inthe steel and will then spring back to its normal position in the mannerreadily apparent. As soon as lug 21 is forced into slot 26 as far as itwill go the lip or bent portion 30 of lug 29 snaps over the end of lug28 of its own accord due to the natural spring in the steel. Thepositioning lugs 28 on the first mentioned outer box-element will engagethe positioning lugs 29 on said other adjacent outer box-element. Thelugs 28 and 29 are tightly pressed together so that the lip 30 on eachlug 29 will extend across the vertical outer edge of the lug 28associated therewith, thus acting to hold the outer box-elements rigidlyin alignment. In this manner any desired number of such outerbox-elements may be assembled to provide a gang of outlet boxes.

When installing the switch or outlet boxes in a finished building usingarmored cable for wiring, the invention has the following advantages.

The various lines of cable can be pulled into partitions ready for theoutlet boxes.

The outlet box because of its novel construction can be placed in thewall before the cable is placed in the box. This will permit placing inthe box as many as the capacity of the box will permit.

There are no parts to take off or loosen when ganging two or more boxes.

The outer box-element can be placed in wall before cables are insertedinto box.

The construction permits access to the electric cable in the wall andmakes it possible to place cable in the cable cutouts. After the cablesare in place the inner box-element is inserted and the screws taken up.

No undue limitation should be understood from the foregoing detaileddescription, for the pres ent embodiment is susceptible of variousmodifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

An electric receptacle comprising an outer boxelement formed of a singlesheet metal stamping comprising a base, upwardly bent end walls, andupwardly bent side walls of considerable less height than said end wallsand abutting the lower side edge portions of said end walls, a cutoutportion formed in each end wall in opposed relation to each other,longitudinally spaced reentrant cut-out portions formed in said sidewalls and in opposed relation to each other, said outout portions beingeach shaped to receive an end of an armored cable, a removable innerbox-element adapted to telescope within the outer boxelement, said innerbox-element formed of a single sheet metal stamping and comprising anopen ended box having end Walls and side walls of such dimensions as toclosely fit within said outer box-element, clamping means on the lowerportions of said inner box-element walls formed to provide individualupwardly bendable flaps arranged thereon as to be in opposed relation tothe cut-out portions of said outer box-element in the assembled relationof said inner and outer box-elements and screw threaded means carried bysaid inner box-element and engaging said outer box-element for rigidlysecuring said box-elements together, whereby upon the insertion of anend portion of an armored cable within at least one of said cut-outportions in a wall of said outer box-element, the bendable flap on theinner box-element in opposed relation to said outout portion is bentupwardly into a horizontal position to clampingly engage substantiallythe full length of said armored cable end portion when said box-elementsare rigidly secured together by said screw means.

CLARENCE E. PIKE.

